Why does it say that he made it "Arko Al Pnei Rochav ha'Bayis"?
'Rashi': It is not needed. It is for parallel structure with "v'Ulam Al Pnei Rochav ha'Bayis" (verse 4).
Malbim: Its length is considered from north to south 1 , for the Keruvim stood from north to south.
Since it was square, one could equally say that its length was from east to west, like the Heichal. Malbim explains why the verse does not do so. (PF)
Did he cover the walls with gold, with nothing in between?
'Rashi': Also here he covered the walls with wood, and covered the wood with gold, like it says in Melachim I, 6:18. It did not mention the wood due to the honor of the Kodesh ha'Kodoshim (it sounds as if there was only gold, and not wood).
Malbim: Here it discusses covering the floor with gold. There was nothing in between. This required a thick plating of gold. He covered each square Amah with one and a half Kikarim 1 , 600 Kikarim in all.
Each silver Adan of the Mishkan was one Kikar; it was an Amah by an Amah by three quarters of an Amah. This implies that the Adanim were about 95% hollow (refer to Shemos 26:17:152:1*). Gold is almost twice as dense as silver. It follows that a gold plate about 4-5% of three quarters of an Amah (about three quarters of a finger) would have this weight. - PF)
Why does it say "l'Chikarim"?
'Rashi': This is like me'Chikarim (he covered it from 600 Kikarim).
